The Football ATG General Arguing/Discussing Thread

[howitzer]

Best XI since about the mid to late 90s

Buffon
Maldini
Nesta
Cannavaro
Lahm
Keane
Xavi
Zidane
Messi
Ronaldo
Ronaldo

DM the trickiest choice there. I could have picked any of about half a dozen players there and it wouldn't have felt wrong.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Best XI since about the mid to late 90s

Buffon
Maldini
Nesta
Cannavaro
Lahm
Keane
Xavi
Zidane
Messi
Ronaldo
Ronaldo

DM the trickiest choice there. I could have picked any of about half a dozen players there and it wouldn't have felt wrong.

I would had gone with anyone DM among Busquets, Keane, Viera and Seedorf; but as a CB; surely Ramos>Cannavaro?

 

[howitzer]

I would had gone with anyone DM among Busquets, Keane, Viera and Seedorf; but as a CB; surely Ramos>Cannavaro?

My dislike of Ramos probably colouring my thoughts there I'll admit.

 

[capt_Luffy]

My dislike of Ramos probably colouring my thoughts there I'll admit.

Ramos admittedly isn't the most likable fellow; but he is, imo, a Top 10 CB of all time; and I don't think Cannavaro is in my Top 25.

 

[sledger]

Cannavaro is actually quite overrated generally, imo. Whereas Nesta, despite generally being rated pretty highly by nearly everyone, is actually still quite underrated for me personally.

 

[Molehill]

Feels like the France turn of the Century side has been completely overlooked here bar Zidane. Desailly, Thuram, Lizarazu and Henry surely have to be in the discussions.

Was Lahm better than his Bayern predecessor?

 

[sledger]

Yes definitely imo. Lahm easily a better player than Lizarazu.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Feels like the France turn of the Century side has been completely overlooked here bar Zidane. Desailly, Thuram, Lizarazu and Henry surely have to be in the discussions.

Was Lahm better than his Bayern predecessor?

Thuram was defensively more stern and have the physical advantage, but imo, Lahm was technically superior, more Swift at creating attacks and was an underrated genius. Anyways, not much between them; and also Cafu. Henry isn't really in the conversation when you have Messi, and a pair of Ronaldo's; 3 Top 10 footballers of all time; and no way Lizarazu have a claim ahead of Maldini. Desailly is the great shout alongside Thuram and Viera; but just falls short to Ramos and Nesta.

My squad would be:
Buffon
Neuer
Cassilas
Lahm
Cafu
Maldini
Carlos
Ramos
Nesta
Desailly
Puyol
Busquets
Keane
Xavi
Pirlo
Zidane
Iniesta
Figo
CR7
Neymar
Messi
Ronaldo Nazario
Lewandowski

 

[sledger]

Henry v R9 is a lot closer than is often made out, imo.

 

[sledger]

And yeah, Desailly was good, but a clear cut below several of his contemporaries.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Henry v R9 is a lot closer than is often made out, imo.

Massively disagree. Pre injury R9 is close to Pele imo.

 

[Molehill]

Massively disagree. Pre injury R9 is close to Pele imo.

Still earnt me a fortune as the top goalscorer in 2002.

Slightly hard to equate as somewhat different players, but as a standalone goalscorer, Ronaldo's record is better (even if goals in Spain are somewhat easier to come by).

 

[capt_Luffy]

Still earnt me a fortune as the top goalscorer in 2002.

Slightly hard to equate as somewhat different players, but as a standalone goalscorer, Ronaldo's record is better (even if goals in Spain are somewhat easier to come by).

If goals in Spain are easier, then they're easily tougher in Italy. Pre injury R9 was a beast.
It still cracks me up that Henry lost the 2002 Ballon D'Or to Michael Owen

 

[sledger]

Still earnt me a fortune as the top goalscorer in 2002.

Slightly hard to equate as somewhat different players, but as a standalone goalscorer, Ronaldo's record is better (even if goals in Spain are somewhat easier to come by).

He actually has fewer (club) career goals than Henry, just ftr.

 

[capt_Luffy]

He actually has fewer (club) career goals than Henry, just ftr.

290 in 600 vs 280 in 384..... Henry's France performances makes this whole debate quite pointless. R9 is Top 10 AT, Henry isn't cracking anywhere in Top 50.